Billy Joel and the muses who inspired his Greatest Hits

“You can have all the money in the world, you can have mansions, you can have properties, you can have yachts, you can have limousines, you can have motorcycles,” Billy Joel told his official biographer Fred Schruers. But without love “it doesn’t mean a goddamn thing.”

Billy Joel and Christie Brlnkley.

Three divorces later, Joel decided to walk down the aisle once again in 2015 to his fourth wife, former hedge fund manager, Alexis Roderick. Yet despite having his heart broken, Joel has managed to be on good terms with each of his ex-wives: Elizabeth Weber (married from 1973-1982), Christie Brinkley (married from 1985-1994) and Katie Lee (2004-2010). Here are the love stories behind some of Joel's famous tunes: “Just the Way You Are,” “She’s Got a Way” and “She’s Always a Woman” were inspired by Elizabeth Weber.

Eventually, Joel got back with Weber. She convinced him to let her manage him, and the couple married in 1973. While Joel was madly in love with Weber and wrote the songs “She’s Got a Way” and “She’s Always a Woman" for her, Weber had no shame in directly asking him if she'd receive earnings on the backend for being his muse. One year, for Weber's birthday, Joel wrote her the song “Just the Way You Are,” and after he played it for her she said, "Do I get the publishing, too?"

Billy Joel and Elizabeth Weber.

After his divorce from Weber, Joel went to St. Bart's for a holiday getaway. He began playing at a piano bar, and it was there he met supermodels Elle MacPherson, Christie Brinkley and an up-and-coming singer, Whitney Houston. When 33-year-old Joel returned to his Central Park penthouse in New York, he was shocked to see that MacPherson, who was just 19, and Brinkley, 28, were competing for his affections. Joel couldn't believe his luck, and although he briefly dated MacPherson, it was Brinkley who ultimately won his heart.

Elle McPherson, Billy Joel and Christie Brinkley.

The couple married in 1985 and Joel's album "An Innocent Man" was inspired by his relationship with Brinkley. He also wrote "This Is the Time" for her — a song that imagines a couple reminiscing about their best days together. However, Joel and Brinkley's marriage had major challenges. Because the Piano Man had suffered a huge financial setback from his legal battle with Frank, he was forced to go on tour nonstop, which created distance between him and his supermodel wife. After rumors spread that Joel was cheating, which Joel denied, the marriage fell apart, and the couple called it quits in 1994.

Joel's relationships might have been costly on several levels, but the iconic singer was able to turn his heartache into some of his biggest hits.

References: Biography & Nostalgia.